Controlling device for coasting-register mechanism for cars or trains.



I Patented Oct. 10,1916.

W. A. & C. W. HALL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20. 19]].

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR COASTING REGISTER MECHANISM FOR CARS 0R TRAINS.

WNINN TED STATEiTENT OFFICE.

WALTER A. HALL AND CHARLES W. HALL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIG-NORS TORAIL- WAY IMPROVEMENT COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEWYORK.

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR COASTING-BEGISTER MECHANISM FOR CARS OR TRAINS.

Application filed March 20, 1911.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, VVALTER A. HALL and CHARLES IV. HALL, citizens ofthe United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York,have made a certain new and useful Invention in Controlling Devices forCoasting-Register Mechanism for Cars or Trains, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to controlling devices for coasting registermechanism, that is for mechanism for registering the coasting ordrifting period of cars or trains.

The object of the invention is to provide controlling devices of thecharacter, and for the purpose set forth, which are simpleinconstruction and arrangement, and efficient in operation.

A further object of the invention is toprovide means controllable fromthe controller of the car or train motor for contr0lling the coastingregister mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide for the conjoint controlof the coasting register mechanism by the car motor controller, and thebrake mechanism of the car or train.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination,location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fullvhereinafter set forth,as shown in the accompanying drawing, and finallypointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a view, somewhat diagrammatic, showing anarrangement embodying the principles of our invention. Fig. 2 is abroken detail view of a modified arrangement of brake applying mechanismassociated with the operation of and controlling the circuit of thecoasting register device. Fig. 3 is a view showing a portion of theconstruction of recording mechanism adapted for use in connection withour invention.

In the practical operation of street or other cars, railway trains orthe like, after the operating power is shut as from the car or trainpropelling motor in coming to a stop, the train or car coasts or driftswithout any other propelling power than its own momentum. The timeconsumed during this coasting or drifting travel of the car or trainSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. 10, 1916.

Serial No. 615,533.

represents a saving of current or other power employed to operate thetrain or car.

Registering devices or mechanism for registering the coasting ordrifting period or travel of cars or trains, or the time consumedthereby have been devisedand are now in extensive use. In the use ofsuch devices and mechanism it is important that the registeringoperation be so controlled as to be put into action only when thecurrent or other propelling power medium is shut off from the car ortrain propelling motors, and that it be arrested when the car or traincompletes its coasting or drifting travel. In accomplishing these andother objects we propose to provide means which are depend ent upon thecoasting or drifting travel of the car or train to effect the setting inoperation of the coasting or drifting registering devices, and we alsopropose to combine therewith means for arresting the registeringoperation whenever current is turned on to the car propelling motor. Wealso propose to combine with such apparatus means whereby theregistering operation, if in action, is arrested in case the car ortrain brake mechanism is applied.

In the drawing reference sign B, designates a portion of the coasting ordrifting period registering mechanism in connection with which ourinvention is employed.

(J, is a magnet arranged to control the starting and stopping of theregistering mechanism. The circuit of magnet C, may be supplied withcurrent from any suitable or convenient source which is controlled bythe coasting or drifting movements or travel of the car or train. l/Vehave shown the circuit of magnet C, as being connected across theterminals of the armature of motor A, which may be one of the propellingmotors of the car or train. The circuit connections 1O, 11, are thecontrolling connections for controlling the propelling operations of themotor. Fro the motor armature, or rather from one side of the motorarmature the circuit of magnet C, may be traced through connection 70 toa contact 71, thence through contact ring 72, to contact 73, wire 7d,the coils of magnet C, wire 75, contact 76, bridging strip 77, contact78, wire .79, contact 80, contact ring or segment 81, contact 82, wire83, to theother side of the armature'of motor A. The contacts 71, 73,are associated motor A is operating as a generator.

with the contact ring or segment 72, which is connected with thepropelling motor controller H, in such relation that when the controlleris actuated from its completely off position to its first step toward onposition, the circuit between contacts 71, 7 8, is broken, and remainsbroken as long as the motor controller H, remains in any of its onpositions. l/Vhen, however, the controller H, is in its complete offposition the circuit of magnet C, is completed between the contacts 71and 73. Similarly the contacts 80, 82, are controlled by a contact ringor segment 81, on the motor controller H, located at the other end ofthe car, in the usual manner.

The closing of the circuit of magnet C, between the contacts 71, 72, andalso between contacts 80, 82, is necessary in order for the registeringmechanism to be put into operation. It is also necessary that thecircuit of said magnet be closed between the contact points 76, 7 8,before the operation of the registering mechanism commences. But

the mere closing of the circuit of magnet C, at these points will notinitiate any action of the register mechanism until the circuit ofmagnet C, is supplied withcurrent. This current supply is afforded, asabove stated, from any suitable or desirable or convenient source,dependent, however, upon the coasting or drifting travel or movement ofthe car or train.

In the particular exemplification of our invention shown in the drawing,where the circuit of magnet C, is connected across the terminals of thearmature of the car or train propelling motor, the circuit of magnet C,receives current only when the propeli ilrlrg 1s condition obtains onlywhen the train or car is coasting or drifting after current supply tomotor A is shut off and the rotor of the motor is driven by the gearingwhich connects it to the car axle, and it terminates when the coastingor drifting travel of the car or train is completed. In other words, theoperation may be described as follows. Though, theoretically, the fieldof a motor is considered to have little or no residual magnetism whenthe current thereto is shut off, in actual practice, it is impossible toobtain absolutely pure iron for the field magnets, and therefore, due tothe impurities in the iron, for one reason, there is invariably someresidual magnetism in the field of the motor. This residual magnetism issufficient to excite the field of the magnet so that upon continuedrotation of the rotor of the motor, the motor acts as a generator andthe circuit 83, 79, 75, connected across the terminals of the motor andclosed only when the current to the motor is shut off, as here inbeforeexplained, the current thus generated flows through this circuit. Inpractice We find that by winding the magnet C with a comparativelynarrow gage wire the resistance of the magnet coil is sufficient toprevent the burning out of the armature of the motor for the purposes ofour invention for all speeds of cars or trains maintained whilecoasting, and at the sametime, enables the magnet to operate theindicating device 13 at a very low voltage, or in other words,immediately upon the movement of the car or train from standstill, ifsaid movement is accomplished by gravity and not by power, for example,by releasing the brakes of the car or train at the top of a hill. Thusit will be seen that the action and operation of the coasting ordrifting registering mechanism is dependent not only upon the operationof the propelling motor as a generator, but also upon the motorcontrollers H, be ing in completely off position and also upon theoperation of the device which con 'trols the bridging contact 77. Thiscontact is carried by a stem 84, connected to a piston 85, operating ina cylinder 86, which is connected through a pipe or other connecttion87, with the car or train air brake sys tem, the arrangement being suchthat when the brake mechanism is applied the piston 85, is moved in adirection to move contact bridge 77, away from contacts 7 6, 78, therebybreaking the circuit of magnet C.

In Fig. 2, we have shown a modified arrangement for use in connectionwith a hand brake system. In this arrangement we substitute for thecontacts 76, 78, suitable fingers 88, 89, arranged to cooperate with arod connected and associated with the hand brake apparatus and which isshiftable longitudinally coincidently with the operation of the handbrake. This rod has a portion 90, of insulating material with which thefingers 88, 89, contact, when the hand brake mechanism is operated toapply the brake, therebyshifting said rod longitudinally in onedirection, and a conducting portion 91, to

complete circuit connection between fingers 88, 89, when the hand brakemechanism is released and the rod is thereby shifted in the oppositedirection.

. Having now set forth the object and nature of our invention andarrangements embodying the principles thereof, what we claim as new anduseful and of our own in vention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is,

1. In an apparatus for registering the coasting or drifting travel ofcars or trains,

and in combination with the car or train propelling motor and brakemechanism, a registering mechanism, a controlling devicetherefor andmeans operated by the car propelling motor when acting as a generator,and under the control of the brake mechanism for operating the registercontrolling device.

2. In an apparatus for registering the coasting or drifting travel ofcars or trains, and in combination with the car or train brake mechanismand propelling motor a registering mechanism, electrical devices forcontrolling the same, a circuit for said electrical devices, saidcircuit being connected across the armature terminals of said motor, andcontacts arranged in said circuit to be closed only when the car ortrain brake mechanism is in released condition.

3. In an apparatus for registering the coasting or drifting travel ofcars or trains, and in combination with the car or train propellingmotor and its controller, a registering mechanism, electrical devicesfor controlling the same, a circuit for said electrical devices, saidcircuit being connected across the terminals of the motor armature, andcontacts arranged in said circuit to be closed only when said motorcontroller is in oil position.

A. In an apparatus for registering the coasting or drifting travel ofcars or trains, and in combination with the car or train propellingmotor and its controller, and the train or car brake mechanism, aregistering mechanism, electrical devices for controlling the same, acircuit for said electrical devices, said circuit being connected acrossthe terminals of the motor armature, contacts arranged in said circuitto be closed only when said motor controller is in off position, andother contacts also arranged in said circuit to be closed only when saidbrake mechanism is in released condition.

5. In a registering device of the character described, the combinationwith the car or train propelling motor and its controller, a circuitconnected across the terminals of said motor, a registering device,means included in said circuit for operating said registering device,and means for closing said circuit only when the controller is in itsofl position.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set out hands in the presence ofthe subscribing witnesses, on this 23d day of February A. D., 1911.

WALTER A. HALL. CHARLES W. HALL.

Witnesses:

MARION V. PERHAM, JOSEPH T. MITCHELL.

Gopie: of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patentn, Washington, D. G.

